features_____ ____
Scientific creationism?
By Tom Jeffries
Of The Print
“The state does not prescribe
what should be specifically
taught in science or other
courses. That decision should
be left to local school boards,”
was State Attorney General
Jim Brown’s decision on
whether the theory of scientific
creation should be taught
alongside the theory of evolu
tion in public schools.
Scientific creationism is the
theory that creation, and the
evolutionary process were
begun and monitored by God.
Three College biology instruc
tors were consulted for their
opinions.
“I wonder how people would’
feel about the mandatory?
teaching of evolution in
church?” said science instructor
John Snively wh§n asked how
he felt about both theories be
ing treated equally in the
classroom. “From a personal
perspective, I would never
teach scientific creationism as
an alternative to evolution. I
spent my time in church, but I
also spent 12 years in college
and learned a lot about alter
nate explanations that; are
much more satisfying and ra
tional to me,” Snively said.
“Besides, from a scientific
point of view, you cannot teach
a belief. We don’t teach, any
theories based on beliefs, we
base it on tested hypothesis. I
couldn’t teach creationism and
be serious. It’s not in the realm
of science. I don’t see how you
can teach a science class and
inject beliefs. As a taxpayer, if
public schools were to adopt
this I’d fight the whole process.
It simply doesn’t belong in the
classroom. There’s not enough
to back it up,” he added.
“I don’t feel it should be
taught in the classroom,”
echoed biology instructor Deryl
Hampton. “It should be taught
in church. Science classes
should contain science,” .
have no particular pro
blem with creation,” Hampton
added. “A thinking, rational
person can believe in God and
evolution, but evolution is hap
pening, we can see it, whereas
religion has to be taken on
faitfi. Evolution is the single
unifying theme in life sciences,
it’s the basis of modem biology.
I would be upset if creationism
were taught in the classroom.
It’s religion.” ;
“I don’t feel there can be any
such thing as scientific crea
tionism,” agreed instructor
Florence Lee. “The two words
are mutually exclusive. They’re
incompatible. Science is based
on facts. We have lots of
courses about religion, we
shouldn’t bring it into science.”
“Our Constitution is founded
on a principle of separation of
church and state. We should
not bring the church into the
public classroom. As a tax
payer and a believer in the
Constitution, I would be
against it.”
Stoff photo by Duffy Coffmt
y -
Adams teaches mountaineering
By Steve Lee
Of The Print
Have you ever wondered
what it would be like to climb a
mountain or a cliff...just
because it was there? Many
people have, and the sport of
climbing is growing in populari
ty everyday.
There is tpore to climbing
than one might expect. For ex
ample, the techniques used in
alpine climbing are very dif
ferent from those used in rock
climbing. The cost to get
started in each is quite dif
ferent. But both can be done at
any time of year.
Seek instruction
Since both of these sports
can be very dangerous without
.proper instruction, it is impor
tant to know where to receive
quality training, at modest cost,
and have fun doing it.
Chuck Adams, director of
admissions and records, has
Page 6•
just the ticket. He and a couple
of his friends run a moun
taineering school in Gresham.
They teach basic and in
termediate mountaineering
skills in a course connected
with the community education
program.
Although Adams isn’t
teaching any classes this
winter, he usually teaches in
the evenings and on
weekends. His instructors are
of high quality, and of them he
says, “one is a fireman, and the
other works for the Forestry
Department,” occupations
which have trained them well
in safety and wilderness skills.
In', the past, Adams had
taught survival classes to Pacific
Northwest Bell crews who work
on the many microwave towers
situated throughout the moun
tains of Oregon. He has also
taught survey crews from the
Department of the Interior . and
the Federal Highway Commis
sion the basics of mountaineer
ing, ropehandlin^ and. safety.
“We teach them to use the^
equipment that they have with
them as tools for practical sur
vival. For instance, a hubcap
can be used to dig with or as a
pan to melt snow in. The Wind
shield of a truck can be used to
make excellent snowblocks for
use in building an igloo,” he
pointed out.
Take action
Some of the more specific
skills taught by Adams are:
making snow caves, trench
shelters and igloos; using
snow-cat equipment for uses
other than designed (such as
using snow-cat seats as insula
tion from the snow, or using
wiring to weave snowshoes);
first aid-preventing , hypother
mia and frostbite, injury
maintenance; an emphasis on
taking
action--doing
something, not just sitting
there; finding food and drink in
the wild (pine needle tea, roots
and berries, and how to make
snares for small game). \
For the time being Adams Adams. It would definitely b
won’t be teaching any classes the trip of a lifetime to travel
because he is involved in too. 'a foreign country and see a
many College committees to the natural beauty of those ei
allow him time away from otic places. If you are interest«
school. But soon his commit in an overseas mountain trek
ment as a committee member leave your name and numb!
will end, and it is conceivable with Adams in the Registrar
that during the summer months Office.
he will be able to teach a few
Low cost classes
classes and even make an ex
cursion or two.
For those who would rath
Adams said that he hopes to just stay at home, there is
“make a trip to a foreign coun local group known as 4
try this summer. Hopefully, to Mazamas who teach basic, I
Switzerland, New Zealand, or termediate, and advancj
to the Himalayas.” Last year, mountaineering courses. It
the College offered a class in inexpensive for these hi
Mt.
Trekking,
which quality courses, and Adai
culminated in a trip to New recommends them highly. 1
Zealand...Or would have, had Mazamas teach during the s]
there been more interest. It ing and summer at local hi
seems that many people who schools. Their course indue
normally would have been in a mountain trip at the end,
terested in such a class were well as all the technique y
disuaded by the $2,000 course can handle. Their courses!
fee.
usually filled to capacity a
“This type of an excursion is people are turned away ei
expensive, so I would en year, so sign up early. (
courage all those who would 227-2345 for more inforn
like-to go to save up,” said tion.
ckamas Community Collej